Archive for February, 2008

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Night-Clubbing in Amsterdam

Author: admin

Feb 29

Nightclubs are as trendy as they can be. Lunches become lounges and trends come and go with the speed of lightning in Amsterdam. One can visit a lounge or a bar or dance the night away in one of Amsterdam’s many nightclubs.

Amsterdam is a Clubber’s fantasy come to life. Cafes start serving drinks at lunch and after-hours parties go on until noon. There a re so many pubs and clubs, one needs to have leisure and time to visit all the nightclubs in this city. Hemp and pot are as prevalent as beer and the Red Light District is a trip through, well, it’s just a trip. Amsterdam rocks virtually every night of the week, although it slows down to catch its breath on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The nightlife offers various music styles: disco, pop and house, with the added attraction of a small dance floor. The nightclubs have a mix of modern design and ancient style, a large lounge area and a dance floor with excellent lightning and sound system is the basic characteristic of all the nightclubs.

One can find intimate (and often very hot and sweaty) venue in the nightclubs- the original home to Amsterdam’s best hip-hop night, and Saturdays are still the day when the nightclubs still plays hip-hop. To get entry it is advisable whenever you go, get there early.

In a nightclub one can find legendary jazz bar or quality music and pleasant and informal atmosphere. If one goes to Bar8, one will find one of the trendiest bars in the city. The characteristics of the Paris, London and New York nightlife scenes reflected in Bar8. Joia, a tropical surprise where in the front, one will find a restaurant with a South American funky menu and exciting cocktails, in the back there’s a true jungle setting. The music is tropical, the mirrors on the ceiling are something different and the overall ambience and scene is something which one really wants to savor. Alto, Bar8, Bar Bep, Joia, Kantine West, Supperclub all these nightclubs give you an exciting cultural or culinary adventure. Escape is one of Amsterdam’s best nightclubs and has provided exclusive parties, music, and atmosphere since 1987. It remains popular and at the cutting edge of the modern dance scene.

Rahul viz recommends that you visit bookings.nl/city/nl/amsterdam.html?aid=305255 bookings.nl/city/nl/amsterdam.html?aid=305255 for more information on bookings.nl/city/nl/amsterdam.html?aid=305255 NIGHT-CLUBBING in Amsterdam.


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    • Explore The Majesty Of Africa On Your Botswana Safari

    Author: admin

    Feb 29

    Botswana is a small country with a big heart. The population is very sparse and most of the country is semi-desert but Botswana sports a gigantic array of wildlife. If you are thinking about taking a safari in Botswana you are really in for a treat. The country boasts some of the best game parks and nature reserves in the world.

    How to travel
    The magnificent scenery of Botswana is gorgeous from any angle. Whether you soar over the thundering herds in an aeroplane or drift along in a dugout canoe, the sweeping beauty of your surroundings is sure to take your breath clean away.

    The moroko is a dugout canoe which is ‘poled’ along, much like a gondola in Venice. Unlike a trip through the ancient city though, there is no traffic or pollution and you are surrounded by unspoiled African wilderness. If you are in more of a hurry though you can take a motorboat along the main waterways and lagoons but only the moroko can slide silently through the quiet backwaters of this wild watery wonderland.

    4X4 adventures are a fun way to explore the main islands and you can even take night drives through private concession areas if you want to experience something a bit more unique.

    There is always more than a hint of romance to the idea of flying; the sweeping views you have always seen in the cinema but never imagined you could do in real life. The Game Viewing flights over the parks of Botswana are every bit as exciting and romantic as you could hope for. Helicopter flights are a really wild adventure while light aircraft sweep over the massive herds of migrating animals and off into the sunset.

    If you are in need of a taste of something truly exotic then an Elephant Ride Safari may be the only way for you to travel. This is a truly original and quite unforgettable experience since the gentle sway of the elephants walk and your height above the ground will give you a view that is unparalleled by anything else in this world.

    The traditional way to go on safari is of course to trek on foot. You will have the unique opportunity to track and stalk live animals with the help on an expert guide. Of course, unlike in the old days, the favourite kind of shooting done nowadays is with a camera so be sure to pack plenty of extra film and memory cards! Getting up close to nature in this way is an old-fashioned, grass-roots, real adventure.

    Okavango
    The primary attraction of Botswana safari expeditions is the Okavango Delta. This, the largest inland delta in the world is a treasure trove of scenic waterways, romantic lagoons, forests and plains that stretch to the horizon. Nature has her playground here with thousands of species of birds and animals all sharing the magnificent landscape under the enormous African sky.

    The delta is only about five thousand years old. Formed when the great Okavango river was blocked from the ancient Makgadigadi lake, the delta is the site of the slowest moving flood in the world. The flood begins in Angola during April and it only reaches the bottom end of the delta during July. This strange, leisurely flood is the result of the flatness of the landscape. In fact, the entire landscape only drops 60 metres over the course of 450 kilometres!

    Chobe National Park
    The Chobe National Park is the second largest national park in Botswana. It is world famous for its abundant elephant population. The Chobe elephant is, in fact, the largest of the entire species. The Chobe National Park also contains an enormous variety of wildlife, some of it completely unique to the park.

    Moremi Game Reserve
    If you visit Africa to see her beauty, then the Moremi game reserve is an essential stop. Besides the variety of birds and animals, here you will witness some of the most breathtaking landscape in Africa. No photographer (no matter how amateur) could miss the opportunity to capture the lily-covered valleys or the infinitely photogenic forests and plains of Moremi.

    Kalahari Central
    The largest game reserve in Botswana is the Kalahari. This enormous stretch of wild countryside is completely arid during the dry season but is flooded with life-sustaining water during the brief rainy season. The rains bring all manner of wildlife to drink and romp in the refreshing ponds and lakes that form in the pans and valleys.

    Makgadigadi Pans National Park
    On these, the largest saltpans in the world, immense herds of game migrate for the rainy season while flocks of water birds fill the skies and waters. The waters that fill the normally arid pans are a mere hint at the massive lake that covered the entire area five thousand years ago. The animals that fill the plains though are as magnificent now as there ancestors were when the great lake was filled by the ancient Okavango River so long ago.


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    • About Spain – Fiesta and Siesta

    Author: admin

    Feb 29

    When asked, the president of Spain mentioned the word “Generosity” a the most beautiful word. His opponent Rajoy brought “Word” (palabra) itself as being the finest amongst the Spanish (Castilian) words. ( 20minutos.es/noticia/106084/0/palabra/bella/castellano/)
    Generosity is indeed a word where you have to think about when you are amongst people in Spain.

    Rituals are those acts where something is celebrated. We all know them, for example the celebration of our own birthday. A ritual is a cultural product. The way we celebrate our birthday in The Netherlands is completely different than in Spain.

    In fact in Spain you do not even need an cause to celebrate something, a little ‘incident’ could be enough; someone who got the idea to prepare a “Paella” ( a traditional Spanish rice dish) for the community for example.

    And if you ought to compare two different rituals the lunch would be preferred above the siesta. If we have to, the siesta can wait…

    If you experience such an occasion (Fiesta) and you are not used to the way people party you could become really astonished.

    The preparation of the Paella is a real tradition. It is prepared in a enormous pan and the fiesta starts around it. Than, do not think that the Paella is the only food that will be served. Drinks are important, but in Spain you do not drink without a bit of food, so during the Paella preparations, “the Tapas” are served. And the celebration is not finished without desert, coffee and snaps.

    But the most astonishing is that time stops when this is going on. This means that if a “Paella” starts at lunchtime – about three o’clock in Spain — the party could easily continue until late at night. And with no siesta this time. And all that for “no specific reason”, jut to have some fun. And fun it is…

    © 2006 Hans Bool

    Hans Bool is the founder of astorwhite.com/” target=”_new Astor White a traditional management consulting company that offers online management tools. Have a look at some of our astorwhite.com/en/service_online_statistics.php” target=”_new free management tools


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    • Living in Mexico – My Wife Was Attacked

    Author: admin

    Feb 29

    In our first book, “The Plain Truth about Living in Mexico,” I wrote a chapter about crime. In that chapter, I tried to drive home the point that by “comparison,” Mexico is safer than the United States. I quoted FBI statistics and stories to make the point that Americans, when regarding crime in Mexico, needed to have a little perspective.

    I no longer hold that view.

    Statistics and proclamations to get a little perspective become nothing but empty words when someone you love, like your wife, gets attacked by a Mexican male.

    My wife was assaulted.

    My wife was walking home from the store in the early evening when she became aware someone was following her. She was being stalked. She didn’t know exactly when the guy began following her. At some point, he was walking parallel to her on the opposite side of the street.

    She had her hands full of plastic shopping bags and momentarily struggled with them. That’s when the freak-a-zoid asked her, “¿Puedo auydarle?”—Can I help you? She replied politely, “No, gracias.”

    A polite reply, from a woman walking alone, was probably not a good idea according to the experts. That’s how a predator gauges vulnerability. But, my Beloved, the epitome of politeness, raised in a “Heidi of the Himalayans” family could give nothing less than a “Sound of Music” polite reply.

    She turned off the main street onto our cul-de-sac.

    That’s when he struck.

    The assailant ran up behind her and grabbed her breasts. That’s all he did. Thank God! It could have been much worse. He then took off.

    I don’t know which is more upsetting: the fact that it happened or that this changes our entire worldview of Mexico. Statistically, it is safer here. These sorts of attacks are rare. Our neighbors were shocked when we told them. Everyone tried to comfort us with, “It rarely happens here…”

    But, “it rarely happens” is absolutely meaningless when it happens to you.

    The small central Mexican town, Guanajuato, where we live has fallen from grace. Where we once felt safe, we no longer do. We can no longer boast that a woman, alone, can walk the streets safely—day or night!

    I will have to adjust what I wrote in our book in its next edition.

    I suppose I expected more out of Mexico. Call me whatever you wish regarding my naiveté. I reasoned that a country in which the Judeo-Christian Ethic has not been extinguished by the secularization that killed America’s ethic probably would not have the same events one hears in the American news reports every day.

    Statistically, it is true.

    But, to my wife’s attacker, the Judeo-Christian Ethic—or any ethic—meant nothing. Wait, apparently he had an ethic that gave him permission to violate my wife.

    He violated both of us.

    Statistics? Stories? Comparisons?

    I was wrong.

    I will never again underestimate this culture.

    Never.

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    • Historical Churches of Bristol-Part 1

    Author: admin

    Feb 28

    St. John’s Church goes back at least to the 12th Century, but it was wholly rebuilt on a section of the town wall in the late 1300’s. Known as St. John on the wall, the new foundation owed its existence to Walter Frampton, who was elected Lord Mayor of Bristol, three times. His tomb is inside.

    Atop the perpendicular tower is the city’s only remaining mediaeval spire. It’s an example of a narrow aisleless church – but its height gives a feeling of space.

    Inside is an alabaster tomb with no inscription. It is thought to be William Barrett, who is the antiquarian to be that of Thomas Rosley, who died in 1478, and has a brass to his memory in the church above. Rowley had six sons and six daughters and there are figures representing this on the side of the tomb.

    St. John’s was joined to the church of St. Lawrence, which stood to the south and shared the same tower. But as 1580, through lack of money, was shut down and demolished soon after.

    You can reach St. John’s churchyard through Tailor’s Court, which was known for Hasardysgarden in 1390. It was consecrated in 1409, though there was opposition from St. James Priory.

    **************************

    St. James Church was originally built as a small Priory of Benedictine, monks.

    Founded in the 1120’s by Earl Robert of Gloucester. Tradition says that when Bristol Castle was being built, every 10th stone brought from Normandy was given for the construction of this church.

    In 1374, St. James became the church of a new parish. A perpendicular tower was added for the parish bells. It has the idiosyncrasy of one pinnacle rising higher than the other three. The nave was given a new timber roof, resting on carved stone corbels.

    The Little Brothers of Nazareth is the present custodians. The Church houses the tomb of Sir Charles Somerset, who died in 1598, at the age of 64.

    The week – long St. James Fair was held annually in the churchyard from mediaeval times. A great deal of business and trading was carried on and the streets around were filled with stalls and booths. There were amusements as well, and the church elders gradually decided that such goings-on were not suitable. So in 1837, they held the last fair. The Fair was attended by: thirty merchants, as well as circuses, actors, and peep- shows. Towards the end of the 19th Century, the churchyard was used occasionally as a fairground and later as a public park. Eventually it was covered by a large department store. The base of the old churchyard remains.

    ************************************
    St. Stephen’s Church was outside the old city wall, but enclosed by the later one. The elegance of its 15th Century Perpendicular Gothic style tower has been remarked upon for centuries by travelers and historians.

    Before the reformation, St. Stephens contained several chantry chapels, but these altars were destroyed in the period of religious zeal. The tomb of the founder of one of these chantries remains – that of Edmund Blanket, who died in 1371. There is also a memorial to Martin Pring, who sailed to America and discovered Plymouth Harbor in 1603.

    The crisp, carved lines of the tower still rise above the far less distinguished buildings that this century has thrown around it. The body of the church however is shadowed by this enclosure.

    St. Stephens is the official parish church of the city, and often times holds lunchtime organ concerts.

    *******************************

    St. Marks is known as the Lord Mayor’s chapel. Originally it was the chapel of the Hospital of the Gaunts. Tradition says that because the Berkeley family endowed it — it was built looking not east, but northeast, facing the Berkeley lands.

    St. Marks was endowed to the bon-hommes, who occupied ground from College Green, to Pipe Lane. They give daily help to 100 people.

    Nearby Orchard Street was named for its orchard.

    The east- end of the church was reconstructed around 1520, but dates back to the 13th Century. The tower dates from 1487. Grotesque carvings decorate the exterior of the tower and nave. By the 1720’s only the chapel remained, and even that was in poor repair. It was then repaired and used as the Corporation Chapel.

    ***********************************

    St. Paul Church opened in 1974. It became known as the wedding cake church from the unusual tiered tower, also described as semi- Chinese.

    St. Paul Church adjoins the church and was once a part of the churchyard. Lacking in an adequate congregation, the church was closed in 1988, and in 2001 a careful renovation of the church begun.

    Tracey Criswell Wilson is an author on Writing.Com/ Writing.Com
    which is a site for Writing.Com/ Fiction Writing. Many of Tracey’s writings, which include fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, can be found at this site.


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    • Kid Vacation – A Train Tour Makes it Extra Special

    Author: admin

    Feb 28

    A kid vacation to remember undoubtedly includes a train tour or train ride. Even though there are many places to see and things to do, there is nothing better than a train ride to bring out the little kid in all of us. Whether its riding a modern train to tour the country or taking a short excursion on a vintage steam engine, your family will have a wonderful time. There are many different train tours available all over the world. Here are some good ones located in the United States.

    Sierra Railroad
    Offers three great train tours in California. The Sierra Railroad Dinner Train connects the Central Valley to California’s Gold Country and offers beautiful scenery. The Sacramento River Train boards in Woodland, California and follows the Sacramento River. The Skunk Train follows a winding route over the Noyo River, and makes its way through the coastal mountains to the Redwood forests.

    Grand Canyon Railway
    The Grand Canyon Railway leaves from Williams, Arizona and offers several classes of vintage train service to the Grand Canyon. This is a great way to get from Williams to the Grand Canyon, and journeying to the canyon by rail offers a fun and unique travel experience for your family. Along the way, enjoy 65 miles of Grand Canyon Country views and Old West entertainment.

    Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad
    This is America’s highest and longest narrow gauge railroad. It makes trips between Chama, New Mexico and Antonito, Colorado. They offer a variety of train rides, and their Cinder Express is a three-hour trip designed especially with children in mine.

    Black Hills Central Railroad
    Ride the 1880 Train through the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota. This vintage steam train is located near Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial. The train runs between Hill City and Keystone, and is a great way to see some of the area. You and your kids will love the ride.

    Both young and old enjoy train rides, and there is probably no better way to see America than to take a train tour. Make it a major part of your kid vacation this year or use it for a short side trip or weekend getaway. Enjoy the slower paced travel and beautiful scenery, and treat your kids to a little taste of a bygone era. It will definitely be a trip that your family will remember and treasure for years. Have a fun trip!

    Are you looking for ideas for the perfect Kid Vacation?

    Get more information here:


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    • Should the Independent Tour Accident in Chile From Celebrity Cruise Lines Scare You?

    Author: admin

    Feb 28

    After the deadly accident that took place in Chile, while passengers from the Celebrity Cruise Lines were touring independently, I thought I would share an excerpt from our book, How to Make “Your First Cruise the Best Vacation” of Your Life. After reading our advice from this excerpt, please see my comments on the piece and the accident at the bottom.

    What About Touring? (Excerpt from the eBook)

    Tours can be purchased form the cruise line, done on your own or you can combine the two. Booking it through the lines has some advantages. Some of them are obvious. The cruise line has thoroughly examined the places they will take you and will rate them according to their difficulty so you know ahead of time if this is the right tour for you. They are always run by local tour companies and these companies want to keep that business.

    Their equipment is A-one and they always have English speaking tour directors. (They also supply other language guides.) You never have to wait in line to get into museums or other attractions- a big time saver. And of course, all of the work is done for you by the tour companies and the cruise line. And it is safe. The cruise lines would never put you in a dangerous situation. There are always a couple of cruise line employees on the tour to make sure no one gets lost and that the bus leaves with the same amount of people that it started with.

    When going to a new or exotic port I would recommend the cruise lines excursions. Some of the most wonderful excursions we have taken were cruise line tours. Imagine flying the Spruce Goose over the mail route to outlying salmon fisheries in Alaska or hitting all the highlights of Rome in one day, or going to China Beach in Vietnam. These are things we never could have arranged on our own.

    Every country has an embassy or a tourism web page to give you information on destinations, festivals, feast days, or the days of Carnival in Buenos Aires.

    The shore excursion booklet will also provide you with information on how difficult or easy the tour is. This is especially important for people with any sort of disability. The duration of the trip and any stops along the way are included and on many, lunch is part of the tour. When traveling in foreign ports such as Russia you will dine on the regional food.

    Really, for a first time visit this is the way to go. And if you chose this option, when the tour guide tells you to be back at the bus at a certain time, be there. By being late you are inconveniencing all the others on the tour and jeopardizing the remaining stops that are scheduled. The tour company has an appointed time to get you back to the bus and they always honor that. When you get back to the ship look all around your seat for your belongings and don’t forget the rack overhead.

    A little etiquette while touring on a bus: Leave the front and second seats for people who are on canes or have difficulty walking. It’s hard to get down bus aisles when you have a disadvantage.

    On the flip side of cruise excursions, you will be traveling in buses with lots of people. Here you will encounter lost time loading and unloading of lots of people. It will always be more expensive than doing it on your own. You’re paying for the work that has gone into the sites visited and the expertise of the guide. Then there is the problem of the people who want to shop and those who just want to see the cultural sights. And although this has never happened to me in over 50 cruises, you might get a guide that is difficult to understand.

    When touring on your own, make sure you have the name and number of the port agent in case of an emergency. (This is quite handy if you miss the ship).

    The cruise lines in most cases will let you know what a typical taxi ride will cost if you are only going into town. Always negotiate the cost of the tour before the taxi ride. Be sure to speak to the tour desk to find out if there are any areas that are unsafe to visit.

    There have been a couple of times where we toured independently but used the cruise lines excursion list as a guide to what to see in that area of the world. If you meet some fun people on the cruise buddy up with them on the cab ride to reduce the price. If you are going to book excursions through the cruise lines do it early or better still do it before the cruise. Most lines will let you do this.

    Comments after the Accident.

    Though all of the above is solid advice, I would add a word of caution. In the poorer areas of the world, I believe it is much safer to go with the cruise excursions tour options. The cruise lines only hire companies that have been thoroughly screened and have superior equipment. In the third world countries, by using local companies you do not have this guarantee. I am not saying that the tour company involved in this accident was substandard, since accidents do happen, but I question the route they were taking. A local Chilean official said that the road was very dangerous, curvy and narrow. I do not believe a cruise company tour group would have taken such a route.

    You must use common since when booking excursions. Of course, it will be safer to tour with the cruise lines in places like Viet Nam or China or even Africa. On the other hand you could feel perfectly safe taking an independent in tour in the Caribbean or Alaska. For more information of the eBook, “First Cruise Best Cruise” see the website below.

    Copyright © 2006 Mary Hanna All Rights Reserved.

    This article may be distributed freely on your website and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, copyright notice, links and the resource box are unchanged.

    Mary Hanna has cruised the world on almost all of the top cruise lines. After over 60 cruises she has decided to compile her expertise into an e-Book for either first time or seasoned cruisers. Mary has written other eBooks, Software Reviews and Practical Articles on Internet Marketing, Cruising, Gardening and Cooking. Visit her websites at: FirstCruiseBestCruise.com FirstCruiseBestCruise.com, CruiseTravelDirectory.com CruiseTravelDirectory.com and WebMarketingReviews.com WebMarketingReviews.com or contact her at mailto:mhanna@cruisepublishing.com mhanna@cruisepublishing.com


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    • Thinking of Buying a Home in Florida?

    Author: admin

    Feb 28

    After you rent a Florida vacation home rental you will see that Florida beach is more than a beach, but a source of unlimited joy and adventure. So, book your Florida vacation home rental now. Renting a Florida vacation home from the owner may be the most cost-effective and enjoyable form of accommodations you can get. Just Imagine returning from an exhausting day spent at Disney,Universal, Sea World or one of the other area attractions in the Florida sunshine, and being welcomed by the cool air conditioned rooms of your private Florida vacation home.

    Vacation

    Not many travel agents own Gulf coast homes, but our villa owners know Florida and can help you plan your dream vacation. When you have decided to take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life to enjoy some quality time in the lap of nature, you have to make sure that you are opting for a great vacation home rental. The splendor of Florida beach is all set to make your vacation enjoyable as well as memorable. Why settle for a small efficiency or motel room for your next beach vacation in Florida. Come to Orlando and enjoy the complete freedom and convenience of a luxury Orlando vacation home or condo in the World’s number one vacation destination – Orlando, Florida.

    Many of the Florida vacation homes for rent at Vacations by Owner (VBO) enjoy access to private beaches or other amenities that can make your vacation so much more memorable than the typical tourist jaunt. Spend your winter months in this fabulous Florida vacation home getaway and enjoy golf, swimming, tennis, spa services, crafts, computers, fine dining and much more.

    Matt Bush is an experienced and caring parent. Read more about a vacationhomeinorlandoflorida.org vacation home in Orlando Florida here.

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    • Britain’s Top 10 Picnic Spots

    Author: admin

    Feb 27

    In the hope of a sunny August (fingers crossed, touch wood etc), here’s a list of Britain’s top picnic spots, as recommended by the Waitrose website.

    1. Mottisfont Abbey Garden (Near Romsey, Hampshire )
    Though Mottisfont’s pride – the National Collection of Old-Fashioned Roses – tends to be at its best in July, this year’s weird weather may have delayed their bloom somewhat. Even if you miss the roses’ prime, you will enjoy the gorgeous gardens and the beautiful house. Perfect for an evening’s Jane Austen re-enactment…

    2. Bodiam Castle (Near Robertsbridge, East Sussex)
    If you prefer Monty Python to Jane Austen – this castle is for you! It featured in the Python film The Holy Grail and boasts a splendidly well-preserved medieval castle complete with moat, battlements and all the trimmings. “Niiii!”.

    3. Fountains Abbey (Fountains Ripon, N. Yorkshire)
    A treat for the whole family! Borrow monks’ robes on site and join the “It’s a monk’s life” tour of this World Heritage Site.

    4. Stourhead (Near Mere, Wiltshire)
    Wander through the renowned landscape garden and enjoy your picnic by the lake with a backdrop of temples and rare trees. If you’re feeling energetic after lunch, climb King Alfred’s Tower and enjoy the magnificent view.

    5. Avebury (Near Marlborough, Wiltshire )
    This is one of Europe’s most impressive prehistoric stone circles – it even predates Stonehenge! Speculate about what the site was originally used for… and walk where centuries of lovers have walked before you. If you’re feeling didactic, there’s an interactive museum to enjoy.

    6. Lyme Park (Near Diesly, Stockport, Chesire)
    What girl can forget the scene in Pride and Prejudice (the ‘real’ BBC version) where Colin Firth emerges from the water? Well, Lyme Park is where it was filmed! With 1,400 acres of parkland to choose from, you’re bound to find your perfect picnic spot to play at being Mr Darcy and Lizzie Bennett.

    7. Wimpole Home Farm (Arrington, Royston, Cambridgeshire)
    This is one for the animal lovers! The working farm specialises in rare breeds of sheep, goats, cows and horses from the 1700s. The perfect spot for a traditional farmhouse picnic, followed by meetings with Shire horses and lambs. This spot is a favourite with families as there’s plenty to keep kids entertained.

    8. Stowe Landscape Gardens (Buckingham, Buckinghamshire)
    This is a picnickers dream – with over forty monuments, temples and secret nooks to explore you are guaranteed to find a secluded spot that suits your taste. The banks of the Octagon Lake near Palladian Bridge are a particular favourite.

    9. Dinefwr Park & Castle (Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire)
    A medieval castle, a park with deer, and bog woods – now that’s what I call picnic perfect! Newton House, dating back to 1660, is open Thursday-Monday throughout the summer.

    10. Morden Hall (Morden, Surrey)
    This proves that you don’t have to go far from London to feel as though you have! Explore meadow, wetlands, waterways and an exquisite Rose Garden. The latter is in bloom all summer and holds over 2000 plants.

    Mio Destino

    By Paul Bowers, I write for Mio Destino and for it’s blog site MioBlog writing articles of interest to their international clients.

    The company sells high end, designer lingerie, swimwear, corsets, pyjamas and mens underwear predominantly from Italy and France but also from the US, Canada and other parts of Europe.


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    • London Vacation: U.S. Chain Restaurants in London

    Author: admin

    Feb 27

    Despite the fact that London’s restaurants have improved considerably over the last 25 years, tourists from America still might find themselves wanted a taste of home rather than the more traditional or international fare available in the capital city. While there are certainly enough McDonalds, Burger Kings, and Pizza Huts to make you feel as if the world is very small indeed, there are other sit-down establishments that – while often pricey – may make you feel a little less homesick.

    With five locations in central London (and dozens more throughout Great Britain), TGI Fridays offers not just the same hamburgers, salads and sandwiches you’d find in the States – but also the same décor, wait staff and music that you’d expect. The bar area is usually very busy, and the restaurant caters to families as well as young people out for a night on the town. Look for Fridays in Bayswater, Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Mill Hill and Fulham. The prices will look pretty similar to what you’d pay in the U.S. but beware – those are pounds you’re looking at, not dollars. Expect to pay double what you’d pay back home.

    “Theme restaurants” like the Hard Rock Café, Planet Hollywood and the Rainforest Café all have branches in Central London. Like Fridays, these are places to take the entire family – especially if loud music videos, movie props and robot animals will keep your kids occupied while you eat. Again, expect to pay more than you’d want for a hamburger or chicken sandwich, but you’re also getting American style service and food. For those wanting something familiar, these three places may provide just that solution.

    While not a U.S. chain, if you’re looking for “traditional” Tex-Mex cuisine one evening, visit the Texas Embassy and Cantina near Trafalgar Square. In addition to what you’d expect (fajitas, enchiladas, queso, chips and margaritas), there is a selection of steaks and barbeque items as well. It may not be the exact thing you’d get in Dallas or Houston, but it’s close enough to keep you going until your return home.

    London Vacation Experts look forward to providing you with accurate, up-to-the-minute information about planning your London travel! Our website contains the most helpful tips, reviews, and resources for air travel, accommodations, ground transportation, sightseeing, restaurants, and entertainment. Visit us at online: londonvacationexperts.com londonvacationexperts.com


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